Why Did the Founding Fathers Give Us Guns?

WHY DID THE FOUNDING FATHERS GIVE US GUNS?
 
By
 
Andrea Lepcio
 
Cast of Characters
 
James Madison
 
Alexander Hamilton
 
Thomas Jefferson
 
George Washington

 The text is all quotes from the founding fathers on guns. 
 
At Rise: Madison, Hamilton, Jefferson and Washington stand around debating.
Actors can feel free to speak or rap or a combination.
 
James Madison
A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty.
 
Alexander Hamilton
But in a country, where the perpetual menacings of danger oblige the government to be always prepared to repel it, her armies must be numerous enough for instant defence. The continual necessity for this service enhances the importance of the soldier, and proportionally degrades the condition of the citizen.
 
Thomas Jefferson
The Greeks by their laws, and the Romans by the spirit of their people, took care to put into the hands of their rulers no such engine of oppression as a standing army. Their system was to make every man a soldier and oblige him to repair to the standard of his country whenever that was reared. This made them invincible; and the same remedy will make us so.
 
                                    Voices of agreement.
 
James Madison
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
 
                                    More agreement.
 
Thomas Jefferson
What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms.
 
James Madison
It may well be doubted, whether a militia thus circumstanced could ever be conquered by such a proportion of regular troops. Those who are best acquainted with the last successful resistance of this country against the British arms, will be most inclined to deny the possibility of it. Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of.
 
Alexander Hamilton
Little more can reasonably be aimed at, with respect to the people at large, than to have them properly armed and equipped; and in order to see that this be not neglected, it will be necessary to assemble them once or twice in the course of a year.
 
George Washington
A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies.
 
Thomas Jefferson
One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.